Fitted sheet with elastic restraints

Abstract

Disposable fitted sheets and method for making them. The sheets are formed without necessitating prior cutting by folding edges of the material and attaching the folded-over edges along diagonal lines associated with each corner. Elastic bands cooperate with each pocket to maintain the fit on the corners of the mattress. The bands are fastened in a stretched condition to the folded-over edges while the sheet is in a flat state. The process of the invention is particularly adapted to continuously forming such sheets which may be formed from a variety of inexpensive materials. Sheets of the invention are particularly useful in hospitals and nursing homes where frequent bedding changes may be needed.

I claim: 
     
       1. An improved fitted mattress covering (1) fabricated from flexible material having a rectangular central portion (3); a pair of opposed side panels (5), each having interior and exterior edges (11 and 9, respectively); at least one end panel (7) having interior and exterior edges (15 and 13, respectively), the side panels and end panel being of substantially the same width, each of the side panels being folded over along the interior edge (11) thereof in facing contact with a common means (19) for attaching each side panel to at least one end panel along a line extending diagonally from the exterior edge of the side panel where it meets the exterior edge (13) of the end panel (7) to a point on the interior edge (11) of the side panel coincident with the interior edge (15) of the end panel (7); wherein the improvement comprises: at least one pair of elastic bands (23) having been attached in a stretched condition and in cooperation with the attached end panel, each band (23) having a first end (27) located on a respective side panel (5) adjacent the exterior edge (9) thereof and coincident with the attachment line (17), each band having a second end (25) located adjacent the exterior edge (9) of the respective side panel (5) between the interior edge (15) of the end panel (7) and the mid-point of the side panel (5); and   fastening means for fastening each band (23) to a respective side panel (5), so that the elastic bands (23) are adapted when the fitted covering is in the operative position to pass diagonally under respective corners of the mattress to aid in maintaining proper fit.   
     
     
       2. The fitted covering of claim 1 wherein the attachment means and the fastening means are adhesives. 
     
     
       3. The fitted covering of claim 1 wherein the flexible material and the elastic bands are heat sealable. 
     
     
       4. The fitted covering of claim 1 wherein the flexible material has two end panels, each side panel being attached to both end panels; and wherein two pairs of elastic bands are fastened to the side panels in cooperation with the end panels. 
     
     
       5. The fitted covering of claim 4 wherein a triangular piece of material formed by the attachment line is removed from each corner.